Greek Yogurt Cheesecake with Ouzo-Poached Figs
- 15 each toast points Melba, about 4 ounces, not Melba asnacksa
- 13 cup walnuts
- 2 tablespoons olive oil, extra-virgin
- 2 tablespoons sugar
- 14 ounces cream cheese (reduced-fat)
- 1 cup sugar
- 7 large egg whites
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
- 16 each figs, dried whole
- 2 cups water warm
- 1/2 cup ouzo Mavrodaphne or port wine
- 2 each rose geranium leaves plus more for garnish
- 1 each cinnamon sticks
- 1 each orange zest 3-inch strip
- 1/2 cup sugar
- To prepare crust:
- Preheat oven to 325F.
- Put a kettle of water on to heat for the water bath.
- Coat a 10-inch springform pan with cooking spray; tightly wrap the bottom and outside with a double layer of foil.
- Process Melba toasts and walnuts in a food processor until fine crumbs form.
- Transfer to a medium bowl.
- Add oil and 2 tablespoons sugar and toss until evenly moist.
- Press the crumb mixture into the bottom of the pan.
- Bake until lightly browned, about 10 minutes.
- Transfer to a wire rack and let cool to room temperature, about 30 minutes.
- To prepare cheesecake:
- When the crust is almost cool, beat cream cheese and 1 cup sugar in a large mixing bowl with an electric mixer until smooth.
- Add yogurt, egg whites and cinnamon; beat until well blended.
- Pour the batter over the cooled crust.
- Place the cheesecake in a roasting pan and pour in enough boiling water to come 1 inch up the outside of the springform pan.
- Bake the cheesecake in the center of the oven until set around the edges but the center still jiggles, about 45 minutes.
- Turn off the oven and let the cheesecake sit in the oven with the door ajar for 1 hour.
- Let cool on a wire rack for 1 hour more.
- To prepare topping:
- Meanwhile, place figs in a small bowl, cover with warm water and let soak for 1 hour.
- Strain the figs, reserving the soaking water.
- Strain the soaking water into a medium saucepan.
- Add ouzo (or wine); bring to a boil over high heat.
- Add geranium leaves (if using), cinnamon stick, orange zest and the figs.
- Reduce the heat to medium and cook until the figs are plump and the liquid is the consistency of a thin syrup, 10 to 15 minutes.
- Remove the figs with a slotted spoon and set aside to cool.
- Stir 1/2 cup sugar into the liquid, adjust the heat to maintain a gentle simmer, and cook until the liquid is reduced by half, 15 to 25 minutes.
- Discard the geranium leaves, cinnamon stick and orange zest.
- Chop the figs and return them to the syrup.
- Remove the pan sides from the cheesecake.
- Serve each slice topped with some of the fig sauce and a rose geranium leaf, if desired.
points, walnuts, olive oil, sugar, cream cheese, sugar, egg whites, cinnamon, figs, water, port wine, cinnamon sticks, orange zest, sugar
Taken from recipeland.com/recipe/v/greek-yogurt-cheesecake-ouzo-po-49019 (may not work)